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A comprehensive study of government textbooks reveals how students in Iran are taught anti-Semitism, hatred and incitement to violence against America, Israel and the Jewish people.
The new study, published by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on the 42nd anniversary of the Iranian revolution, reveals that the current editions of the regime’s textbooks go so far as to accuse Western media of hyping the pandemic thwart last year’s celebration of the Iranian revolution.
Incitement: Anti-Semitism and Violence in Iran’s Current State Textbooks is the first comprehensive study of anti-Semitism, intolerance or extremism in the official Iranian curriculum in around 5 years. Iran, a leading global government promoter of terrorism, publishes and distributes an official curriculum whose textbooks glorify terrorism, indoctrinate hatred among young people, and encourage conspiratorial thinking – all in blatant disregard for international norms and obligations.
“It is no secret that the Iranian regime continues to promote extremism and terrorism and feed its people with a constant dose of anti-Semitic and anti-American propaganda,” said Jonathan A. Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL. “The Iranian textbooks show how deeply rooted this official smear campaign is in society and how it reaches influenceable young people with these xenophobic and dehumanizing messages as part of the official curriculum.”
Some recent examples mentioned in the ADL report:
Students are taught to chant “Death to Israel,” which the books describe as a false regime that needs to be eliminated.
- The students are taught that the Jews conspired against Islam from the beginning by forging Islamic scriptures and using warfare and freemasonry to achieve evil ends.
- Students are taught that the US-led sanctions against Iran are part of a “satanic plan” to eradicate Muslims’ religious beliefs.
- The students are taught that the Iranian people, especially through their nuclear scientists, “have achieved a blessing with your great jihad and the blood of your generous youth.”
“While some curricula in the region are slowly improving by reducing agitation and encouraging discussions about tolerance, anti-Semitism in education and incitement to violence in Tehran is as militant as ever,” said David Weinberg, ADL director for international Affairs in Washington. “From demonizing Jews in class to ancient history and glorifying anti-Semitic terrorists in 2020 – Tehran’s current curriculum is full of government-sponsored fanaticism.”
